Dallas Stars News

Faksa has been sidelined since Game 2 but "will be an option" for Game 6. It's unclear who Faksa will replace if he plays, but it will likely be Craig Smith or Ty Dellandrea.

Faksa has been out since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury and will remain out for Game 5 on Wednesday vs. Vegas as he did not participate in warm-cups. The 30-year-old centre had seven goals and 19 points in 74 regular season games but has yet to pick up a point while averaging 9:00 TOI/GP his first two games played of the playoffs.

Oettinger picked up his second straight 32-save victory (.941 SV%) in Game 4 as he evened out the Stars' opening series last time out and will start Game 5 on Wednesday as expected. The 25-year-old had a down season as far as counting stats but has pulled it together in the playoffs and has a decent 2-2-0 record, 2.38 GAA and .907 SV% in four games played. He'll look to pick up the series first home victory and take a lead over Vegas as they host the Golden Knights for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Bichsel spent half the season with Rogle BK (SHL) after leaving Texas (AHL) earlier in the season but has returned and been reassigned to the Stars on Wednesday. The 19-year-old defensemen is Dallas' 2022 first round pick (18th overall).

Faksa appears to have suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 2 of the series and has now missed the last two games as a result. Largely relied on for his defensive prowess, Faksa still managed to tally seven goals and 12 assists across 74 games in the 2023-24 regular season.

The Stars will unsurprisingly be sticking with their number-one netminder after Oettinger guided the team to their first victory of the series in Game 3. Oettinger had a terrific game, stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced before Wyatt Johnston won the game for Dallas in overtime. Oettinger has rebounded nicely from a disappointing effort in Game 1, allowing just four goals on 59 shots (.932 SV%) across the last two games. He and the Stars enter action on Monday as slight favourites at -125 despite being on the road.

Kiviranta did not play Sunday's 5-1 game-four victory over the Winnipeg Jets and could miss a second straight game. In the series' first three games, Kiviranta tallied one assist and nine hits while averaging 10:14 ice time.

Thatcher Demko will remain out of the lineup for at least one more game and as a result, the Canucks will turn to DeSmith between the pipes again in game three. DeSmith struggled in game two, his series debut, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, evening the series at 1-1. The Canucks enter action as +101 road underdogs on Friday.

The Stars will turn to Oettinger in game two as they look to rebound from a series-opening loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Oettinger had a forgettable opening game performance, allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%), all in the first 22 minutes of the contest in a 4-3 loss. The Stars enter action on Wednesday as -161 home favourites.

Myers absence from Game 2 on Tuesday night is a surprise, with the Canucks not announcing any sort of injury prior to warmups. Noah Juulsen is expected to draw into the lineup in his place.

With the surprising news that Thatcher Demko (undisclosed) will not be available for game two, and possibly beyond, the Canucks will turn to DeSmith in the crease. DeSmith is familiar with the Canucks crease as he was their mainstay between the pipes for the latter part of the season as Demko missed most of the final month due to a knee injury. DeSmith had a 2.89 GAA and .895 SV% in 29 games this season (12-9-6). The Canucks enter game two against the Nashville Predators as -131 home favourites.